For Queen & Country (1988)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Martin Stellman

Writers:

Martin Stellman (writer)
Trix Worrell (writer)

Release Date:

19 May 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

He's older, he's wiser, but times have changed.

Plot:

A retired British soldier struggles to adjust to everyday life, with increasing difficulty.

Plot Keywords:

Falklands War | Interracial Relationship | Prejudice | 1980s | Poverty

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Reuben James
Dorian Healy	...	Tony aka Fish
Sean Chapman	...	Bob Harper
Graham McTavish	...	Lieutenant
Geff Francis	...	Lynford
Frank Harper	...	Mickey
Craig Fairbrass	...	Challoner
Michael Bray	...	Bryant
George Baker	...	Kilcoyne
Bruce Payne	...	Colin
Stella Gonet	...	Debbie
Colin Thomas	...	Feargal
Tatiana Strauss	...	French Girl #1
Valérie Chassigneux	...	French Girl #2
Brian McDermott	...	Harry

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Working Title Films

Trivia:

First cinema film of Ken Stott.

Soundtrack:

A Matter of Time

A Heroes Welcome?

The first time I saw this film was back in the early Nineties, and I hadn't really heard of Denzel Washington either, therefore I presumed I was watching a low budget film about a Falklands Veteran returning to life in Civvy Street.

What I actually got was an eye opener about Life within Her Majesty's Armed Forces versus Life on the outside. Reuben, having been discharged from 2 Para, returns to London after a tour of duty in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, where he was decorated as a war Hero. However, given his vocation to his country, he finds interviews for jobs surprisingly difficult to arrange, even though they were sorted out by his careers officers in the army. Within time, he realises his illustrious army record holds no sway in everyday life.

This film makes you realise how easy it is to fall into the criminal side of life as Reuben becomes a body guard to a drug dealer. The ending is as grim as his life has become, therefore don't expect a smart, streetwise, cocky character to race through the film avoiding trouble. This is a Gritty urban Drama. I felt that as you watch Reuben's hopes for the future fade away, there truly is no justice for the little man.

Washington's British accent is impeccable, you would believe he was born, and lived his life in Milwall or Bermondsey. I read an interview that he learnt the native accent by getting drunk for a fortnight in London.